As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the role of Emirati women in the publishing sector, the 15th edition of Al Ain Book Festival, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), offers a unique platform to support and highlight the contributions of Emirati women publishers through the Emirati Women Publishers initiative.
The initiative aims to highlight the creativity and diversity of publications issued by Emirati women-led publishing houses, in addition to facilitating direct communication between women publishers and the public, and emphasising their cultural contributions.
Alamkom Publishing: A platform for connecting with generations
Founded by Hamda Al Bloushi, Alamkom Publishing is participating in the pioneering cultural event for the first time. Al Bloushi expressed her pride in taking part in the festival, especially seeing as she hails from Al Ain. She described the festival as being far more than just a book fair, but a vibrant space that fosters local creativity. She asserted that Alamkom Publishing aims to offer innovative stories for children that encourage them to read in Arabic and cultivate in them a love for their native language. This, in turn, helps integrate Arabic better into educational curricula, strengthening the cultural identity of future generations.
Araam Publishing: Celebrating cultural diversity
Araam Publishing is celebrating its first participation in Al Ain Book Festival. Maryam Al Qassimi, Founder of the publishing house, highlighted that this step marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey, noting that Araam focuses on producing bilingual children’s publications that enhance their understanding of various languages and open new horizons for knowledge. She described the festival as the perfect opportunity to interact with readers of all ages and to support local talent in children’s literature, emphasising Araam’s commitment to offering diverse and inspiring cultural content.
Dar Al Masar: Offering exclusive books at the festival
Dr. Fatima bin Omar from Dar Al Masar, stressed that Al Ain Book Festival constitutes a cultural bridge connecting writers and readers, noting that the publishing house is dedicated to reviving the beauty of traditional books by offering content that blends education and entertainment. Dr. bin Omar also revealed a selection of exclusive books being displayed for the first time at the festival, including ‘The Supernatural Power’ (a novel translated from Turkish), ‘The Story of Fujairah’, ‘The Golden Collar’, ‘Names I Don’t Like’, and ‘A Kind Letter from Queen Afifa’.
‘Mutaat al-Qira’ah’ for Book Sales: Educational stories for children
Elyazieh Al Neyadi, manager of ‘Mutaat al-Qira’ah’ for Book Sales, expressed her delight at participating in the special cultural event, explaining that her publishing house offers educational stories in a simple and engaging style, making it easier for children to absorb and retain information from the first read. She highlighted the importance of the Al Ain Book Festival as a platform for exchanging ideas with prominent publishers and Arab writers, opening new horizons for cultural and creative collaboration.